Mendeleev was a Russian scientist famous for his proposal of the periodic table, a table that was accepted widely after his identification of eight new elements. These elements were predicted and discussed by him in his paper in 1869, 1875 and 1886. But what was more amusing was the original names used by Mendeleev for some of these elements. He referred to Gallium as eka-aluminum and Germanium as eka-silicon, where the 'eka' word was adopted from Sanskrit. Mendeleev in effect gave Sanskrit names to eight of his newly identified elements in his periodic table. Today's post reflects the connection between Sanskrit and the insights Mendeleev derived thereof, leading him to his discovery.

Mendeleev had a friend called Böhtlingk, who was studying Sanskrit and would refer to himself as a Sanskritist with great pride. It was at this time when Böhtlingk was writing a book on Panini ( author of Sanskrit grammar, 5th century BC) that he discussed in depth with Mendeleev about how Panini had arranged different sounds with increasing phonetic complexity in the Sanskrit language. Mendeleev was inspired by this thought and he too then arranged elements in the order of increasing atomic weights creating the periodic table. One can thus find striking similarities in between the periodic table and Panini's grammar in introductory Maheshvaras and ShivaSutras.

Following is an excerpt from a research paper by Professor Kiparsky from Stanford University,

"The analogies between the two systems are striking. Just as Panini found that the phonological patterning of sounds in the language is a function of their articulatory properties, so Mendeleev found that the chemical properties of elements are a function of their atomic weights. Like Panini, Mendeleev arrived at his discovery through a search for the "grammar" of the elements (using what he called the principle of isomorphism and looking for general formulas to generate possible chemical compounds). Just as Panini arranged the sounds in order of increasing phonetic complexity (e.g. with the simple stops k,p... preceding the other stops, and representing all of them in expressions like kU, pU) so Mendeleev arranged the elements in order of increasing atomic weights, and called the first row (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, etc.) “typical (or representative) elements”. Just as Panini broke the phonetic parallelism of sounds when the simplicity of the system required it, e.g. putting the velar to the right of the labial in the nasal row, so Mendeleev gave priority to isomorphism over atomic weights when they conflicted, e.g. putting beryllium in the magnesium family because it patterns with it even though by atomic weight it seemed to belong with nitrogen and phosphorus. In both cases, the periodicities they discovered would later be explained by a theory of the internal structure of the elements."

According to the research article published by Subhash Kak, it is suggestive that Mendeleev noticed the two-dimensional arrangement (point of articulation and aspiration) of Sanskrit alphabets (varnamala). He then applied a similar concept to elements and recognized that ratios/valency and atomic weight could also define a two-dimensional arrangement. This arrangement also helped him theorize the gaps in the table to yet undiscovered elements. He then predicted eight different elements and used Sanskrit prefixes such as 'eka', 'dwi', and 'tri' in their names. Mendeleev thus contributed significantly to the world of chemistry through his discovery that was inspired by an Indian language.

With this, I managed to convince Jon Snow. What do you all think? Isn't it fascinating to know that our forefathers had developed such sophisticated theories for languages? It is truly astonishing that they had studied and discovered two-dimensional patterns in basic sounds!

Do let me know your thoughts on the same by posting a comment and share any interesting insights you have!!

Remember,

Jon Snow really needs to know a lot more...!😎

#GOT #JonSnow #firangichashma

P.S. This post is based on the reference of Subhash Kak's article and research papers cited thereof. I would urge everyone to go through the same and even get a glimpse of Mendeleev's original paper. The link for this article is shared in the post. Happy reading!

Contributions from ancient India to the field of Astronomy have been greatly under-appreciated or at times not acknowledged! Just as a quick sneak peek into this vast ocean of knowledge from India, I am highlighting the contribution of one of our famous scholars- Aryabhata!

Aryabhata was born in the town of Ashmaka. This town in today's India is situated in the state of Kerala. He left home to study Astronomy, more popularly known as 'khagola Shastra' in India, at the Nalanda university around 500 BCE. Apart from various other significant contributions, he was the first in the whole of mankind (*) to state that the sun is at the heart of our solar system with the other planets revolving around. In his book, 'Aryabhatiya' he presented a mathematical system explaining the earth's spins around its axis and the motions of the other planets with respect to the sun. He also accurately calculated the earth's circumference and diameter and discovered how the lunar and solar eclipse happen. He was the first astronomer to use a continuous system of counting solar days. In his book, he writes that 1,58,22,37,500 rotations of the earth equal 5,75,73,336 lunar orbits. This provided a fundamental ratio in astronomy (1,58,22,37,500/ 5,75,73,336= 27.3964693572) and perhaps is one of the oldest constants calculated with high accuracy.

Aryabhatiya was then later translated to Latin in the 13th century. What more is astonishing, that these observations were made by Aryabhata 1000 years before Aristarchus, Copernicus, and Galileo!

Hearing this Jon Snow was amazed! How about you? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Until then, mighty proud India 🙌

* in documented history

Remember, Jon Snow wants to know more...

#got #jonsnow #isro #chandrayan2 #aryabhata #rajivmalhotrabooks #rajivmalhotra #ancientindia #aryabhatasatellite #chandrayan1 #trueindologyindia

PS: This post is a highly condensed and abridged version of works in the 'Aryabhatiya'. It highlights a few of Aryabhata's mesmerizing discoveries and touches upon them briefly. If you wish to read through and unravel the marvels of Aryabhata's scholarship, feel free to go through 'Aryabhatiya'. Besides Aryabhata, many other Indian scholars have contributed to the field of Astronomy. I will discuss them soon in my upcoming posts.

Parental lineage can be accurately determined by DNA testing. But since Snow was not sure how it works I started off by telling him about the basics - chromosomes. The presence of chromosomes and their role in genetic inheritance was first described in the 'Bhagwata Purana'. The 'Bhagwata Purana' also known as 'Shrimad Bhagwatam' was written by Sage Veda Vyas around 1800 BCE. The Bhagwata Purana gives enormous details about the birth and origin of humans. It is narrated in the form of He and She for man and woman respectively (3/6/1-5).

Following is a reproduced excerpt of the translated version-

'He noticed that unless He and She unite, reproduction is not possible. Therefore He conjugated with She. He entered into her 23 principles and brought together all the 23 principles.

He stimulated her creative energy. Her 23 principles got activated, they conjugated with his 23 principles and the combined energy of those 23 principles reproduced the person.'

The chromosomes are referred to as 'Gunawidhi' in Bhagwata Purana. The word conveys the true meaning of a chromosome - 'Guna' meaning characters and 'Widhi' meaning functions. Although the language might sound absurd in the modern context, the accuracy of the accounts cannot be neglected. The Bhagwata Purana also discusses how the zygote divides itself to form two cells. This process occurs 10 times to give rise to 2^10 cells. Also, this happens at three layers, the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm, in effect producing 2^30 cells.

Modern Science today agrees with these observations (i) that a human embryo contains 46 chromosomes, a set of 23 coming from the mother and father each (ii) the presence of three layers and (iii) that indeed so many cells are found in newborns!

Alongside the Bhagwata Purana and Mahabharata, the science or 'Shastra' (as I would like to call it) of Embryology and Scientific cloning has also been discussed in the 'Garbha Upanishad', 'Caraka Samhita', 'Sushruta Samhita' and the 'Yajnavalkya Smriti'. All the texts describe in detail the developmental stages of the embryo with the accuracy extending to every month and sometimes even days. The texts also talk about the determination of the male and female sexes alongside transgenders. It is welcoming to read that Indian culture was aware and open to multiple genders.

The 'Garbha Upanishad' for instance even accounts for the details of the human body.

[The human body] consists of 107 marmas (weak or sensitive spots), 180 sutures or junction points, 109 snāyu (sinews), 700 channels, 500 majjā (muscle), 360 bones, and forty-five million hairs. The heart weighs 8 palas and the tongue weights 12 palas. It has one prastha of pitta (bile), one ādhaka of kapha, one kudava of śukra, and two prasthas of fat. The measure of the urinary or solid excretions is dependent on the intake. [1 pala = 45.5 grammes; 1 prastham = 728 grammes; 1 ādhakam = 2,912 grammes; 1 kudavam = 182 grammes] (Translated by Subhash Kak).

These details have been validated by modern Science and are indeed astonishing! Please read the Garbha Upanishad to know more and how Pippalada (author of the Garbha Upanishad) made these astonishing observations.

It is important to understand that all the above texts encompass an ocean of knowledge that needs to be read and studied. While some of it has been validated by modern methods the rest is more complex for the still struggling and limited approach of modernity.

Jon Snow was in complete awe after hearing this. Although we didn't reach a point where we could find his mother, I thought it was best one fact at a time. What do you guys think? Please comment below and let me know your thoughts 😊

#got #jonsnow #bhagwatapuran #vedvyas #garbhaupanishad #genetics #embryology #humanbirth #humanbody #firangichashma

PS: Well, I heard Jon Snow was saying that he needs to know a lot more!!! 😎

One can find many manuscripts on diseases, authored by Indian scholars in ancient times. One such is Bhavaprakasha, written in the 16th century by Bhavamishra an Ayurveda physician. His work marks the first time mention of a peculiar disease called as the 'Phiranga roga'. He describes 'Phiranga roga' as the one that has more incidences in phiranga desha among the inhabitants phirangi and hence named so. It is a sexually transmitted disease caused due to physical contact with the people affected by phiranga. He also mentions that it is an extraneous disease.

'Phiranga roga' today is known to us by the name Syphilis or Ganda roga. Bhavamishra has not only mentioned the methods of diagnosis and prognosis of syphilis but also its medication. He has specifically noted a new drug - 'Chopachini' for the management of 'Phiranga roga'. Astonishingly, the use of 'Chopachini' was not mentioned by any previous authors of Ayurvedic manuscripts. In fact, it is evident from studies on Bruhattrayee (another ayurvedic manuscript) that Syphilis was not prevalent in India until the advent of people from the west. It spread amongst Indians after direct contact (especially sexual) with a Phirangi. Detailed analysis of 'Madhava Nidana' is suggestive of Portugal as the Phirangi desh.

'Bhavaprakasha' has a detailed study of the etiology and pathogenesis, complications, types, and medications for Syphilis. To know more about Syphilis and 'Bhavaprakasha' do read the research article which is the source for this post.

It is also important to note that apart from Syphilis, many of the diseases associated with Indians or Asians today find their roots in the west. I am thinking of uploading a collated list of all such diseases soon on my blog. What do you all think? Would you like to know which diseases we are falsely accused of carrying since generations and checked for during visa interviews? Comment below and let me know.

And yes, about Snow. I guess I will be taking him to a doctor (unfortunately Bhavamishra is not around to help), I am no good at diagnosis. I hope he recovers soon! Besides he is keen to read 'Vaidyakeya Sangraha' and diagnose for himself (he really wants to know more)!🤒😎

PS: There is a review article published in the International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 2017 on Phirangaroga. The article, 'An overview of Phiranga in Ayurveda' is a must-read! Do skim through if possible!